Prius-Rivalling Hyundai IONIQ Offered as Hybrid, Plug-in or Electric

For years, the Toyota Prius had its own way. It was alone in its market. Other hybrid cars have come and gone in its time but have never offered a direct alternative. One car that hopes to do just that is the Hyundai IONIQ.

Just like the Prius, the IONIQ will be offered in Hybrid and Plug-in forms. Additionally, there will be an Electric form.

The IONIQ Hybrid uses a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder GDI petrol engine. Combined with its electric motor, it has a system output of 139 bhp and 265 Nm. It can reach 115 mph yet emit around 79 g/km. Korean-spec models are set to deliver 22.4 km/l which equates to a little over 63 mpg. It houses a 1.56 kWh battery.

Next is the IONIQ Plug-in. It uses the same setup but with an electric motor that produces a little more power. The 8.9 kWh battery means a 30-mile electric-only range and emissions as low as 32 g/km.

Both petrol-electric models deliver their power through a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with the aim of better drivability, avoiding the sluggish CVT altogether. SPORT mode holds onto gears for longer and extracts all the power from both powertrains, whereas ECO mode essentially does the exact opposite.

Lastly is the 118 bhp 295 Nm IONIQ Electric. It's home to a larger 28 kWh battery, which results in a 155-mile range. Top speed is limited to 103 mph.

Every IONIQ has the same Cd value of 0.24.

Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Smart Cruise Control are all added to the high level of tech found on the new IONIQ. More visual technology includes a 720p 7-inch TFT instrument cluster replacing conventional dials, CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and wireless phone charging capabilities. A free 7-year subscription to TomTom live services comes as standard, with access to its database of weather, traffic, speed cameras and online points of interest.

Luckily, the IONIQ was designed to be an eco car from day one. This means that Hyundai has managed to hide most of the hybrid components without compromising space. Take its boot, for example. With the seats folded down, it measures 750 litres.

The interior door covers are bizarrely made from a combination of recycled plastic, powdered wood and volcanic stone. Extracts of sugar cane are applied to the headlining and floors to improve recyclability and oddly improve air quality. Even the metallic paint colours have soybean oil extracts in them. The designers took the 'green car' brief very seriously.

Outside, the Hybrid has bi-xenon headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights, however the Plug-in and Electric have upgraded electric headlights.

We can expect to see the IONIQ go on sale before the Winter of 2016, with pricing set to be competitive with that of the Prius (£23,295).